Anti-trafficking law gets tougher

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said the newly enacted Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026, would play an important role in combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, particularly crimes facilitated through the misuse of digital platforms and technology.

He said Bangladesh’s legal and institutional capacity has been strengthened to meet international standards and respond to the constantly changing tactics of criminal syndicates.

The minister made the remarks at a national-level dissemination programme jointly organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice and Care Bangladesh. The event was chaired by Manzur Morshed Chowdhury, senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, Director General of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Dr Ziauddin Ahmed attended as special guests.

In his speech, the home minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to suppressing human trafficking and migrant smuggling through a stronger legal framework, effective institutional coordination and a victim-centred criminal justice system.

“The newly enacted Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026, is a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s efforts to combat these serious transnational crimes,” he said.

He said close cooperation among government institutions, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, development partners and civil society would be essential for the successful implementation of the law.

The minister said the new law clearly defines human trafficking and migrant smuggling as separate offences. It also establishes a comprehensive legal framework for prosecuting migrant smuggling as a criminal offence, strengthens investigation and prosecution capacity, enhances protection for victims and witnesses, and expands the scope for international cooperation in line with global standards.

He added that the law upholds the internationally recognised principle of non-criminalisation of victims, ensuring their dignity, rights and security at every stage of the criminal justice process.

Officials said the dissemination programme created an opportunity to build a common understanding of the new law among institutions responsible for its implementation. Participants discussed key provisions of the Act, its implementation framework and priorities for effective enforcement, including stronger coordination from investigation to judicial disposal.

Justice and Care Bangladesh Country Director Mohammad Tarikul Islam presented the background, rationale and key provisions of the legislation.

Senior representatives from Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Coast Guard, CID, Special Branch, NSI, the judiciary, prosecution authorities, government agencies, diplomatic missions, UN agencies, international organisations, development partners and civil society also attended the event.

According to UNODC, Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as victims of human trafficking in most regions of the world. More than 1,000 Bangladeshi victims were reported by national authorities between April 2023 and March 2024 alone.

UNODC said violence rarely begins at the recruitment stage. In many cases, recruiters lure migrants with fake job offers or contracts that are changed after they arrive at their destination.

Violence and coercion often emerge later, when victims realise they have been deceived. Traffickers then maintain control through threats, force or by exploiting drug dependency.

Victims are trafficked for forced labour, sexual exploitation, forced marriage and organ removal schemes.

The new law strengthens provisions against human trafficking by introducing clearer penalties and improving the investigation process.

The reforms come at a time when trafficking patterns are evolving. Authorities are seeing a rise in trafficking for forced criminality, including online scam operations.

The new legislation responds to these emerging challenges by criminalising evolving forms of trafficking and specific practices such as forced marriage.

Women and girls remain particularly vulnerable. Those trafficked for forced marriage often include victims of early marriage, divorced or separated women, and survivors of gender-based violence.

In many cases, forced marriage becomes a pathway to further abuse, including sexual exploitation.
Officials said that by criminalising migrant smuggling and strengthening provisions against human trafficking, Bangladesh has laid the groundwork for a stronger response to both offences while aligning its legislation with international standards.